Being a recruiter for this company is exceptionally challenging - District Recruiting Manager Farmers Insurance Group Employee Review

My experience as a recruiter for this company was interesting. The DM's are basically pitted against each other to constantly compete and recruit more people to be agents. If the DM's don't hit their specific recruiting numbers set forth at the beginning of the year by some corporate gurus in the State and Home offices, they get eliminated, one by one. This wouldn't be so awful if the program set forth by the company wasn't one that stays commission only for the candidates recruited to be agents. The licensing costs come out of the candidates' pockets up front, which isn't the end of the world (like $800 total for P&C and Life & Health), but once they've done that, they get trained in the office by the DM and the designated District Trainer- with no base coming in. Once they start selling policies, they get commission immediately, but it takes awhile to get up to speed. After the new agents have achieved selling 40 policies + 4 cross sold life policies, they become "career agents" which essentially means they sign a different contract with the company to pledge their undying devotion and dedication to hit the increasingly challenging numbers placed upon them for 24 solid months. In exchange for this agreement, they get a monthly "subsidy" of a low base number. While helpful compared to commission only, most of them end up using that monthly income to live off Top Ramen, purchase leads and market their new agencies. So just to recap that section- here's a very REALISTIC time frame on how long it can take the average Joe or Sally to get through this process: About 1 month per licensing test with the State Dept of Insurance. Some DM's like to push the candidates to kick it into high gear and spend only 2 weeks studying for each test, but this RARELY works as life gets in the way for these people and they can't do it that fast. So while it can be done in 1 month total time for tests, at least 2 months minimum is expected. (Some candidates took up to 6 months per test.) Training with DM and District Trainer after newly licensed: 6-12 months. So a minimum of 7 months, but more likely 14 months, for Joe or Sally to live off of commission only on policies. That's difficult for most people. And by difficult I must clarify- one needs a big vat of money (or a wealthy spouse/partner) to live off of if they are even going to entertain the idea of doing this. If the new agents can't cut it and don't make it all the way through the program, they have to pay the subsidy money BACK to the company once they throw in the towel as they've technically broken their contract. This results in collection activity as Farmers is quick to recoup what they deem is theirs. Imagine how difficult pitching this is to someone considering the wonderful career of selling insurance with such a fine company. A little difficult, no? Beyond difficult. Especially in this day and age, with the economy tanking and unemployment rates still climbing... Farmers is more like the "Prada" of the industry as far as pricing and rates, vs. a company like Mercury, which would be considered "Walmart" of the insurance industry. Having to sell expensive policies to anyone who will listen isn't easy. Sure the unlimited income potential is there, and yes, there are agents that are million dollar hitters, but from a recruiters standpoint, this is a NIGHTMARE to get people in for an interview. Most DM's use the old bait and switch technique where they have their recruiters LIE and act like it's a "normal" interview for a "normal" paying job, and then once the candidates show up, they say "Oh, by the way, there's no base pay." I didn't even mention the fact that because they are independent contractors, there will be a credit check and background check run by the company, AFTER they've forked over money to PAY for the background check themselves (about $70). Many people have had to file for bankruptcy in very recent years and so that wipes about 30-40% of viable, talented candidates off the possibility list right off the bat- they won't pass the background check, don't bother bringing them in or talking to them any further. The company also recently added to the requirements that the new agents have to be Series 6 & 63 licensed as well, which allows them to sell Farmers Financial Services to their clients (401Ks, 529 college savings plans, IRAs etc). Very few agents that have been with the company for a long period of time have attempted to have this additional licensing as it's difficult. From a recruiter's perspective, finding someone that has a sales personality, is smart enough to comprehend all aspects of Life & Health and Property & Casualty insurance, AND has the ability to be exceptionally smart in the math department is, quite frankly, like finding a rainbow farting unicorn. Bottom line is this- if you're going to sign up to be a recruiter for this company in this kind of a capacity, you better eat your Wheaties every morning and be prepared to think outside the box to dig up live bodies that can meet all the criteria. Having a tough skin can only help as you will need to be able to handle a TON of rejection from people telling you you're crazy to even approach them with such a looney concept as no base pay. I was smart enough to get out of the company when I did and after watching them tightening their belt on management in general... you couldn't pay me enough to go back and work there again.